by smf for LAKidsNews
Sept 9, 2014 :: At today’s LAUSD school board meeting there were two (count ‘em) two instances where the board and the superintendent skated on the ethical fault line.
IN THE FIRST: The board voted to approve a contract with Microsoft – buried in a package of contracts – to automatically and routinely delete District emails from District servers after one year. There was a little debate on this issue – and an uncertain amount of confusion and tiptoeing around the issue – but in the end the board voted in what 4LAKids thinks is the wrong way.
Emails on LAUSD servers will be retained for one year. And then – unless someone in a an official or law enforcement capacity intervenes – they will be systematically deleted. Pffffft – into the ether.
It is true that nothing truly disappears from the the internet – but once these files and directories are deleted from the servers even a forensic search by law enforcement will be virtually impossible.
Had this policy (If it is a policy, I certainly didn’t hear that it was approved as a policy!) been in place only a few months ago we wouldn’t know anything about those pesky LAUSD/Apple/Pearson iPad Contract/RFP emails. There would be no iPadgate. No embarrassment to be embarrassed about. No nagging questions or suspect explanations. No bodice ripping John+Marjorie electronic epistles. No troublous FOIA requests by intrepid reporters.
No problem.
THERE ACTUALLY WAS A MORE HEATED DEBATE about allowing principals to enter into single-source contracts at their school sites with little or no oversight or accountability. Superintendent Deasy actually rose to this debate and argued that allowing site administrators to enter into contracts and spend public money in any way they see fit is a key component of his ®eform plan.
Procurement policy? We don’t need no stinkin’ procurement policy!
This issue was temporarily put aside …but the superintendent seems committed to it.
Also at the board meeting there was a presentation on the wonderful progress/spectacular improvement of MiSiS that doesn’t quite square with the reports from the field. Along with the announcement of MiSiS v. 2,o.
We can hardly wait.
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